Vehicle signalling circuit



June 24, 1958 J. R. HOLLINS 2,840,796

- VEHICLE SIGNALLING CIRCUIT Filed March 16, 1953 HEAD LAMP cow/201.

JW/TCH I v %/P/INVENTOR. I

VEHICLE SIGNALLING CIRCUIT Jesse R. Hollins, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Abraham Hollins and Jesse R. Hollins, Brooklyn, Lewis S. Hollins, Great Neck, and Theodore B. Davidson, New York, N. Y.

Application March 16, 1953, Serial No. 342,526

2 Claims. (Cl. 340-81) This invention relates to signalling circuits for automotive vehicles and, more particularly, to a novel signalling circuit using the usual parking lamps and stop lamps as signalling elements but providing a much more distinctive and sharper signal when signal control means are actuated.

It is now conventional practice to equip automotive vehicles with selectively operable lamp flashing circuits so that the driver can signal a proposed turn. For example, to signal a left turn, a pair of lamps on the left side of the vehicle, one at the front and the other at the rear,

are energized through a flasher to provide a flashing signal to approaching or following vehicles. Generally, this is effected by moving a turn indication selector lever which operate appropriate switches to flashingly energize either the right side lamps or the left side lamps.

For reasons of practicality and economy, the turn signalling lamps are usually incorporated in the compartments for the parking lamps and the tail or stop lamps, which latter are sometimes combined in a single unit. Such incorporation is effected by the use of two-filament lamps, having a first filament energized through the headlamp control switch or the brake-operated stop switch, and a second, and brighter. filament selectively connectable through the turn signalling switch to a flasher.

Under normal conditions, the lamps glow steadily when the headlamp switch is on, or the stop lamp(s) is steadily illuminated when the brake is operated. When the turn signalling switch is operated, the second filaments of the desired lamps are flashingly energized at a higher level of illumination than provided by the steady energization of the first filaments.

Consequently, in signalling a change in direction, the level of illumination of the lamps on one side of the vehicle is raised, as compared to the level of illumination of the lamps on the other side of the vehicle. Additionally, the lamps on one side are flashed while those on the other side burn steadily.

As a result, the turn signal provided is merely a difference in degree of illumination plus an intermittent flash ing. In other words, the turn signalling lamps merely go from a relatively dim condition to a brighter condition.

The resulting signal transmitting effect is not sufficient- 1y impressive on the drivers of other cars, being relatively indistinct due to representing merely a change in illumination. The indistinctness of the signalling effect is even more pronounced with respect to the tail or stop lamps as compared to the front-rnounted parking lamps, as the tail and stop lamps, whether individual or combined, are provided with red lenses which even further reduce the perceived illumination level.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel signalling circuit and novel switch are utilized to provide a much more distinctive and easily perceived warning signal, while utilizing the usual two-filament lamp arrangement. To this end, the switchincludes normally closed circuit nited States Patent controlling contacts interposed between the parking lamp control switch and the parking and tail lamps, and normally closed circuit controlling contacts interposed between the brake-operated switch and the stop lamps. The switch further includes normally open circuit controlling contacts included in the energizing circuit of each of the directional signal lamps or filaments.

The opening and closing of the aforementioned contacts is effected by movable elements or operators which are selectively actuable by the directional signalling control lever. When the latter lever is operated to signal a turn in a selected direction, the corresponding element is actuated to open the circuit between the parking, tail and stop lamps or filaments and their respective normal control switches, on the corresponding side of the vehicle, and to connect the turn signalling lamps or filaments, preferably including the stop lamp filaments, on such side to a flasher. The normal control circuits of the parking, tail and stop lamps or filaments on the opposite side of the vehicle remain unchanged.

Thus, the parking and tail lamps or filaments on the one side of the vehicle are extinguished, while the brighter turn signalling lamps or filaments, including the stop lamp or filaments, on such side are flashingly energized. Thereby, the effectiveness of the flashing signal lamps or filaments is not reduced by virtue of any steady burning lamp or filament in the same lamp compartment. The flashing illumination intermittently varies from zero illumination to a high level of illumination, rather than from a low level of illumination to a higher level. The contrast of the illumination is accordingly sharply increased, providing a much more distinct warning signal.

Preferably, the invention control switch further incorporates a flare control lever for flashing all the signal lamps to indicate an emergency stop. A flare switch lever suitable for use in the invention switch is shown in my copending applications, S. N. 259,473 or S. N. 259,474, filed Dec. 1, 1951, for Vehicle Directional and Emergency Parking Signal Control System, now U. S. Patent No. 2,667,603, dated January 26, 1954, and U. S. Patent No. 2,667,627, dated January 26, 1954, respectively. The flare lever, when operated, actuates both switch elements to disconnect all the parking, tail and stop lamps or filaments from their usual control switches and to connect all the signal and stop lamps or filaments to the flasher. Thereby, all the vehicle warning lamps are flashed on and off, rather than being merely varied in effective illumination.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing, the single figure is a schematic wiring diagram of a vehicle signal lamp circuit embody ing the invention control arrangement and switch.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is illustrated, by way of example only, as incorporated in a vehicle signalling system in which two-filament lamps are utilized to provide a parking lamp and a signalling lamp in the same compartment, and two-filament lamps are used to provide a combined stop and tail lamp unit. The control switch 10, which in practice is mounted on a suitable base or enclosed in a suitable housing, is provided with a swingably mounted selector lever 15 controlling the turn signalling and a reciprocably mounted flare lever Z-li operable to flash all the signal lamps at once.

Lever 15 may be swingably mounted on a pivot pin or shaft 11, which also extends through an elongated slot 12 in lever 20 permitting longitudinal reciprocation of the latter. Lever 15 includes an elongated operating handle 13 and an enlarged switch operating head 14 which is preferably substantially sector shaped about pin '5! 11 as a center and includes switch operating or camming surfaces 16 and 17.

Lever 2i) may be normally spring biased to the position shown or may be merely releasably latched in either extreme position. i This lever has a lateral offset 21 at its lower end which may be grasped'by the operator to operate the flare control. At its opposite end, lever 29 has a substantially triangular operating head 22 with switch operating or camming surfaces 23, 24 substantially parallel, respectively, to surfaces 16 and 17 of lever 15.

Gn either side of levers it and are the signalling control switches 36 and 3t), which are identical in construction so that only one will be described in detail. Switch 3% includes a longitudinally movable elongated carrier 35, of dielectric material, which is aligned for movement perpendicularly to surface 23 of head 22. and camming surface 16. Spring 31 normally biases carrier Zitoward surfaces 36 and 23.

On one side surface, carrier is provided with longitudinally spaced contact strips 32 and 33, and on its other side is provided with longitudinally spaced contact strips and 36. Strip 32 normally engages and interconnects contacts 41 and 4-2, strip 33 normally engages contact 43, strip 34 normally engages and interconnects contacts and 46, and strip 36 normally engages and interconnects contacts 47 and 48. On movement of carrier 35 by either surface 10 or 23, strip 32 disengages contact 4-1 and strip 33 interconnects contacts 43 and 44; Upon the aforesaid movement of carrier- ?5, strip 34 disengages contact 45, and strip 35 disenga-ges contact 47 and interconnects contacts 43 and W.

Contacts 45. and 41 are connected in parallel to the parking lamp tap of headlamp control switch 5i which,-

in turn, is connected to the vehicle battery and generator. Contacts and 45' are connected to the tail tap of switch 5t). Contacts 42 and 42 are connected to the parking lamp filaments 51, 51 of front mounted lamp units, 55, each on a different side of the vehicle. Each such lamp unit includes a second and considerably brighter signal lamp filament 52, 5'2 respectively connected to contacts :3 and 43. The two filaments of each lamp unit are commonly grounded as at 53 or 53.

Contacts 45, 45' are respectively connected to the tail lamp filaments 61, 61 of combined stop and tail lamp units 6t 64) of combined stop and tail lamp units 61? mounted on either side of the rear of the vehicle. These units include second and considerably brighter stop lamp filaments 62;, 62 respectively connected to contacts 48, 45. The two filaments of each unit are commonly grounded as at 63, as.

Contacts 4?, 4-7 are connected in parallel to the usual brake-operated switch which is, in turn, connected to the vehicle battery and generator. Contacts 44, 44', 49, 49-? are connected in parallel to a flasher 76 which is, in' turn, connected to the vehicle battery and generator. pilot lamp 75, grounded at 76, is connected to a'relay in flasher 7%, in the usual manner; to be flashed in synchronism or in alternation with the signal lamps when the latter are energized.

The operation of the invention switch and system'is as follows: in the position of the levers 15, 20 and carriers 35. 35 illustrated in the drawings, parking lamp filaments 51, 51' are connected to headlamp control switch 5% through contacts 42, 42, conductive strips 32, 32 and contacts 41, 41'. Similarly. tail lamp filaments 61, 6 1 are connected to switch 59 through contacts 46, 46', conductive strips 34, 34 and contacts 45, 45. Also stop lamp til nts 62, d2 are connected to brake-operated switch 6.) .arough contacts 47, 37', conductive strips 36, 36' and contacts 43, 48. This is the normal switch 10 position in ,h, when switch St? is operated to the parking lamp position, lamp filaments 51, 51 and 61, 61' burn with a steady illumination and, when switch 65 is closed, filaments 6;, 62 are steadily illuminated.

If a left turn is to he signalled, lever .15 is moved counter-clockwise so that surface 16 moves carrier 35 to compress spring 31. Filaments 51 and 61 are thereby disconnected from switch 50' as strip 32 disengages contact 41 and strip 34 disengages contact 45. Filament 62 is disconnected from switch 65 as contact strip 36 disengages contact 47. However, the right side filaments remain in their normally connected, and steady burning relation, as carrier 33' has not been moved. 7

As carrier 35 moves outwardly, strip 33 interconnects contacts 43 and 44a, and strip 36 interconnects contacts 48 and 49". Signal lamp filament 52 is now connected to flasher through contacts 43, 44 and strip 33, and stop lamp filamenttiZ is connected to the flasher through contacts 48, 49 andstrip 36. Hence, these brighter filaments on the left side ofthe vehicle are energized and deenergized by flasher '79. As filaments 51 and 61 are deenergized, the illumination of units 55 and 6t varies between'zero andenhanced brilliance, providing a sharply contrasted flashing signal. The right side la-mpsrneanwhile burn steadily, if illuminated.

A corresponding effect is obtained when lever 15 is swung clockwise from normal or neutral to signal a right turn. For an emergency stop or parking, flare lever 2% is grasped at abutment 21 and pulled downwardly. This moves both carriers 35, 35' outwardly, by engagement thereof by surfaces 23, 24, to connect both'signal lamp filaments 52,- 52 and both stop lamp filaments 62, 62 to flasher 51, 51- from switch it and'filamentsZ, 62 fromswitch- 65. Hence, all the'signal'lamps are flashed between zero illumination-and a high level of illumination, providing an effective warning signal.

While a specific embodiment of theinvention'has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the'applieation of'the invention principles, it -willbe understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles; 1

What is claimed is. I

l. In-a vehicle signaling system; a pair of parking lamp means; a pair of signal lamp'means; one parking lamp -means and one signal lamp means being grouped on each side of the front of the vehicle; apa-ir'of tail lamp means; a pair of stop lamp means; one taillamp means and one stop lamp means being grouped on' each side of the rear of thevehicle; a parking andtail lamp control switch; a stop lamp switch; a pair of turn signal switches each havinga normal position and an operated position; mean'sfo'r selectively operating either of said turn signal switches; each turn signal switch being in circuit withthe lamp means on a difierent side of the vehicle; means; in-

cluding asource of current, said control switch, and said turn signal switches in the normal position constituting a steady energizing circuit for said parking and tail lampmeans; means, including said source, said stop lamp switch; and saidturn signalswitches in the normal position constituting a steady energizing circuit for said stop lamp means when said stop lamp switch is closed; and means, including said source, a current interrupter, and one of'said turn signal switches in the operated position for'intermittently energizing circuit for the signal lamp means and stop lamp means on one side of the vehicle; and means for conjointly operating both turn signal switches independently of said selective operating means therefor.

2. In a vehicle signaling system; a pair of parking lamp means; a pair of signal lamp means; one parking lamp means and one signal lamp means being grouped on each side of the front of the vehicle; a pair of tail lamp means; a pair of stop lamp means; one tail lamp means and one stop lamp means grouped on each side of the rear of the vehicle; a parking and tail lamp control switch; a stop lamp switch; a pair of turn signal switches each having a normal position and' an operated position; means for selectively operating either of said turn signal switches; each turn signal switch being in circuit with the lamp means on a different side of the vehicle; means, including a source of current, said control switch, and said turn signal switches in the normal position constituting a steady energizing circuit for said parking and tail lamp means; means, including said source, said step lamp switch, and said turn signal switches in the normal position constituting a steady energizing circuit for said stop lamp means when said stop lamp switch is closed; and means, including said source, a current interrupter, and one of said turn signal switches in the operated position for intermittently energizing circuit for the signal lamp means and stop lamp means on one side of the vehicle; each turn signal switch, in the operated position interrupting the steady energizing circuit for the parking and tail lamp means, on the associated side of the vehicle, by operation of said main control switch, and preventing steady ener- 6 gization of the stop lamp means on the associated side of the vehicle, when said stop lamp switch is closed; and means for conjointly operating both turn signal switches independently of said selective operating means therefor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,122,508 Bell July 5, 1938 2,186,911 Erickson Jan. 9, 1940 2,293 533 Michel June 4, 1940 2,233,394- Murray Apr. 15, 1941 2,267,743 Murray Dec. 30, 1941 2,321,303 Falge June 15, 1943 2,652,553 Hollins Sept. 15, 1953 

